Realism in Science and Realism in Science and ArtArt

Just as in politics, culture of the 2nd half of the 1800s focused

on realism and practical

achievements. Knowledge grew as

did focus on the material world

Science As IR happened

science became valuable b/c it creates technology. Physics improves engines (thermodynamics) Gov’t becomes more involved in promoting research- science becomes more specialized

For many- science became virtually a new religion- full of miraculous achievements.

Science also valued more than ever b/c it is improving life and standard of living

Bacterial Revolution- We finally find out what makes you sick!!

Louis Pasteur: Germ Theory

Pasteurization- heat kills bacteria- reduces food poisoning.

Significant reduction of

Typhus, yellow fever

Joseph Lister: Antiseptics Clean procedures

for surgery and medicine. Fewer people die of infection.

Deaths from Cholera, With better medical

care

Dmitri Mendeleev Michael Faraday

Developed Periodic Table 1869

Electro Magnetism/ thermomagnetic induction.

Created 1st Dynamo (generator) which led the way to electric motors by 1870s

New Physics Physics created and

shaped by Isaac Newton- said the universe is a machine with matter and space operating independently.

Marie Curie: atoms are made of smaller parts (proton, electron etc.)

Max Planck: a heated body radiates energy in irregular streams or “quanta”

Challenged the belief (from Sci Rev) that the universe can be FULLY understood- it is “relative”

Curie/Planck’s theories showed that matter and energy could be two forms of the same thing- which shook 19th century viewpoint of world.

Ernest Rutherford: Split the Atom 1919

Albert Einstein Theory of Relativity

1905. Space and time are not absolute- but are relative to the observer. Matter and energy reflect the relativity of time and space (E=mc2)

Matter holds huge amounts of energy- which can be harnessed.

Universe is infinite- matter and energy are interchangeable.

Charles Darwin and Evolution Had greatest impact

on general thought in the late 1800s.

1859 published “the Origin of Species” about evolution and survival of the fittest- natural selection. Implied aggression is the best way to survive

Controversial- seen as against bible- “descent of man” linked to apes

All life evolved from a common origin- and is engrossed in an unending struggle for survival- we must adapt to survive.

Darwin himself didn’t comment much on his work- popularized and publicized by other- Thomas Huxley

Social Darwinism Applied survival of

fittest to social situations.

Herbert Spencer: successful individuals and races are worthy b/c they are strongest.

Used to justify oppression and imperialism

Will lead to scientific racism (4 major races, whites meant to rule the world)

Social SciencesNew interest in “scientific” study

of culture- both present and past. Who are we? Why do we do what we do?

History, psychology, anthropology, archeology, all developed between 1850-1900 Research and education

August Comte: Sociology Father of sociology. Advocated

science (rather than religion) as a rule for society. (Plato: Republic)

Positivism: all intellectual development goes through predictable stages- thus humans can use that to learn about and define relationships. Social Science can regulate the world for the better

Sigmund Freud: Psychoanalysis

Vienna 1856-1939. founder of idea of “therapy” (psychoanalysis) Said humans are irrational

Said emotional disturbances can be traced to (repressed) incidents in early life- and if they are defined a person can be “cured”. The unconscious (ID) plays a huge role in behavior (dreams)

Repressed sexual frustrations create mental disturbances.

Marx, Darwin, and Freud are the 3 big thinkers of the late 1800s

The Arts: RealismThe Arts: RealismBelief that literature and art

should depict life as it IS. Reaction to failed revolutions of 1848- loss of idealism

Realism in LiteratureRealism in LiteratureFocus on ordinary characters in

real life (not solitary heroes romantic settings).

Used them to explore social issues. Careful observation and accurate description (avoid poetry and flowery language)

Fed realpolitik and social reform

AuthorsAuthorsGustave Flaubert: Madame BovaryWilliam Thackery: Vanity FairCharles Dickens: Oliver Twist, David

Copperfield, Great ExpectationsFyodor Dostoevsky: Crime and

PunishmentAll of these are about making your

way in the world- what you have to do to climb the ladder of success, and the price you may pay

Other AuthorsOther AuthorsHonore de Balzac: the Human

Comedy. Urban society as greedy and immoral (social darwinism)

Leo Tolstoy: War and Peace. A fatalistic story of love and loss

Henrik Ibsen: Father of Modern Drama. Hedda Gebbler, A Doll’s House. Examine social issues and morality.

Art: RealismArt: RealismPhotography (Louis Daguerre 1830s)

made capturing a REAL image possible (george eastman 1890s)

Gustave Courbet/Francois Millet: realist painters- bleak reality of the industrial age

Art no longer required wealth patrons, done for arts sake. Paris center of art world- painting sent to Paris Salon to be viewed and judged

ImpressionismImpressionismRebelled against realism. Capture a

moment by focusing on light and color. Paint quickly spontaneously. Use more pigments, bolder colors, visible strokes.

Lots of painting outdoors (tubes of paint available) Often did a series of the same object at different times or seasons to capture different feeling

ArtistsArtistsClaude Monet: father of series

painting. (water lilies) demonstrates shift in movement from realism to abstraction

Edgar Degas: dancers, movementCamille Pissaro: landscapes- actually

got “blurry” before Monet- some say HE is father of impressionism

Pierre Renoir: children and ordinary people

Post ImpressionismPost ImpressionismForerunner of modern art. Use

light and color, (like impressionists) but move towards expression of inner feeling rather than a moment in time

Vincent Van Gogh: his originality is staggering- his painting show a different world

Pablo Picasso: Cubism- creating familiar objects from geometric shapes

More post impressionismMore post impressionismGauguin: expressionist- moved to

south pacificPaul Cezzane: order and design

in still lifes.Henri Matisse: was about form,

line and color, not the object Wassily Kandinsky: expressionist,

and 1st abstract painter

Age of Mass PoliticsAge of Mass PoliticsBy 1870s the countries of Europe

had evolved into strong nations (some more than others)

Focus is on strengthening, which will become

competitive by the end of the century

Universal Manhood Universal Manhood SuffrageSuffrage

By 1914 most men in Europe could vote. Voting recognized the individual and gave him a stake in politics

Mass Politics: valued opinions of all groups, not just elite. Gov’ts became more responsible to public, competing parties to represent different ideas.

Less positive side was gov’t manipulating voters for their own ends- asking for blind patriotism, or an “us v. them” attitude

Women’s SuffrageWomen’s SuffrageFeminism often

considered unorthodox and disturbing. Gov’t feared women would be overly influenced. Class differences often hindered women from working together to achieve rights.

Norway 1st country to grant women the vote.

Positive argument- women were naturally moral- would be good influence.

Women’s rights began with things like property and marriage rights

Continent generally less supportive- France didn’t give women vote until 1945.

Great Britain (and US)Great Britain (and US)Had most advanced

women’s movements. Split between moderates (National Union of Suffrage: Millicent Fawcett) who wanted to work slowly and convince men. And Radicals (Women’s social and political union: Emmeline Pankhurst) who used extreme, disruptive tactics

Suffragettes came largely from middle classes (had more time for activism)

Women chained themselves to fences, went on hunger strikes (cat and mouse acts, women freed until healthy, then re-jailed)

Rep. of People Act 1918- suffrage for women over 30. 1928, amended to over 21

Minority Rights: JewishLong denied equality- but gained

specific rights- more in western than eastern Europe

1848- citizenship in Ger states, Italy, low countries and Scandinavia. 1867 Legal rights in Austria

As a cultural group- active in literary and cultural movements. Often liberal (seeking reform/change) more radical in Austria/Russia

PogromsRussia VERY anti-semitic. Restrictions

on where Jews could live, types of jobs etc.

Pogroms were gov’t sanctioned and organized riots to destroy Jewish homes and property. (“scapegoating” use attacks as release for other issues)

1880s and 90s particularly bad- Jews blamed for econ issues, revolutions etc…

Labor Movements Realpolitik meant

workers stopped rioting for rights too (standard of living rising, focus on improvements to wages, hours, conditions) Began to work- more successfully- within the system through politics. Formed unions, workers parties. England legalized unions 1875, France 1884, Germany 1890. Used peaceful (sometimes) strikes for better conditions.

SocialismAs voting expanded # of socialists did too.

Even with expanded rights, many still saw the capitalist system as fundamentally flawed. German Socialist Dem. Party.

Because nationalism is strong in this era- international movements (which is what pure marxism calls for) are often weak. “Internationale” communist movement- often hampered by nationalist issues.

Marxism begins to go through adaptations

Life at the Fin de SiecleTurn of the

century “good old days” of Western Europe. They are powerful, have good econ, most major political issues are over

Belle Epoque1895-1914Standard of living

highest it has ever been (to that point) in West .Not so much in East/South

Real wages doubled from 1800-1900- creation of 1st consumer culture

Leisure Activities Increased disposable

income gave lower classes to spend on entertainment. Radio/phonograph

Vacations (loved the seaside) can travel farther through public transport and cars

Sports (both participating in and watching) Bicycle craze

Changes to women’s clothing to accommodate activities